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$1.6 million helps regional communities find local solutions to local challenges

The local solutions of eight regional communities received backing by the Federal Government’s Regional Solutions Programme on Christmas Day with the announcement of development grants totalling almost $1.6 million.

The eight grants are part of the ongoing assessment of applications under the four-year Programme and are just the tip of the iceberg with further funding being announced in the next few months.

Hundreds of applications were lodged in the Programme’s first month.

Judging by the enthusiastic response, Regional Solutions is proving to be a very popular programme, meeting the needs of regional communities.

Flexibility is the key to Regional Solutions. The Programme supports regional communities to identify and put into action development opportunities that meet their specific needs, promoting local solutions for local challenges.

The $90 million funding Programme was a direct response to concerns raised during the Regional Australia Summit that ‘one size fits all’ approaches were not meeting local needs for regional and rural communities.

Regional Solutions offers development grants of $1,000 to $500,000 for local projects ranging from community planning and adjustment initiatives, to regionally based enterprises and the employment of community based development officers.

Ongoing application assessments and grant announcements

The Christmas Day announcement was part of the ongoing assessment of applications. Applications can be sent at any time during the four year programme and grant announcements will be made regularly.

The Regional Solutions grants were awarded to:

• Back o’ Bourke Centre, NSW
• Coober Pedy Times, South Australia
• Jones Hill State School P & C, Queensland
• Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria
• Northern Areas Council, South Australia
• Shire of Ravensthorpe, Western Australia
• Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group, Queensland
• Gippsland Collaborative Industry Development, Victoria

Looking forward to fresh ideas

Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Development, John Anderson, and Federal Minister, Senator Ian Macdonald, said they looked forward to supporting more fresh ideas from regional and rural communities.

"I anticipate that the next four years will see some real innovations put into action in regional Australia through the Regional Solutions Programme – working at the grass roots level to support local ideas and solutions," Mr Anderson said.

For more information about the Regional Solutions Programme call 1800 026 222 (freecall).

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